Are you raising a female dog that just gave birth? If so, understand that a dog that has just given birth should receive special attention, especially when it comes to feeding and drinking to restore his health. In addition to requiring more water intake than usual, dogs must also eat foods that are full of protein, fat, and calcium in order to be able to produce milk for their children in the future.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Feeding and Drinking a Newborn Dog
Step 1. Place food nearby
Do this so he doesn't have to leave his puppies to eat, especially since most dogs won't want to leave their puppies just to eat. That way, she doesn't have to leave her stomach empty for too long after giving birth.
However, there's no need to force the dog to start eating food right away, especially since most mothers need to rest for a few hours and recover before eating anything
Step 2. Provide food that is easy for the dog's tongue and stomach to accept
If your dog seems reluctant to eat food after giving birth, try giving him a high-calorie food that he prefers. For example, give him his favorite food or add egg yolks and/or animal fat to his diet.
To make the taste of the food more palatable to the dog's tongue, try soaking it in chicken stock and warming it in the microwave first
Step 3. Immediately provide fluids for the dog to consume
When giving birth, dogs will lose a lot of fluids. That is why, you should give as much water as possible to replace the lost fluids and avoid the risk of dehydration.
If your dog seems reluctant to drink plain water, try mixing it with a little chicken stock to make it tastier and more palatable to the dog
Step 4. Give more food than usual
Remember, dogs that have just given birth and are breastfeeding should eat larger portions of food. In particular, most dogs should eat twice as much as usual after giving birth! Otherwise, the dog's health may not recover quickly and the condition risks affecting his ability to nurse his puppies.
- These foods should be given at regular intervals throughout the day in small portions, rather than being given all at once in very large portions, so that they are easier for the dog to digest.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the recommended serving portions for dogs who have just given birth or are breastfeeding. Generally, these instructions are listed on the back of the food packaging.
Part 2 of 2: Feeding and Drinking a Breastfeeding Dog
Step 1. Give special puppy food to nursing dogs
In particular, puppy food has a higher calorie intake and is easier to digest. This means that dogs can digest the nutrients in food more easily and quickly so that their daily nutrition will still be fulfilled.
- Follow the serving portions recommended on the food package, but make sure your dog eats food continuously throughout the day or has unrestricted access to food.
- So that the dog's digestion is not disturbed, try mixing normal dog food with special food for puppies for 3-4 days. This will help your dog to gradually get used to the new food.
Step 2. Make sure your dog is drinking as much water as possible
A nursing dog should consume as much fluid as possible to produce enough milk. Therefore, make sure the dog is given the widest possible access to drinking water while feeding.
In particular, pay special attention to the amount of water your dog drinks if he is on a dry diet
Step 3. Increase the amount of food your dog eats over the course of a few weeks
Remember, dogs need to increase their milk production for a few weeks after giving birth. Specifically, a dog's peak milk production is three weeks after she gives birth. During this time, the dog must eat four times as much food as usual to keep up with milk production.
The food should be divided into four small portions and served periodically throughout the day to make it easier for the dog to digest
Step 4. Monitor the dog's weight
Remember, dogs who are breastfeeding are at risk of losing a fair amount of weight. If his caloric intake does not match his milk production, his body will convert the stored food into energy and therefore, the dog may lose unhealthy weight. To prevent this from happening, make sure your dog doesn't lose more than 10% of its normal body weight while breastfeeding.
